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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: court · bass · fan · fine · bound · mug · leaves · saw

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bass — the fish
  3. mug — a face
  4. court — of law
  5. court — of a king
  6. bass — low music
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fine — all right
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bound — certain
  14. mug — a cup
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mug — to rob
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. court — for sport
  20. bound — obliged
  21. saw — the tool
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com